I Warned You Guys About Cedric Benson (1 Viewer)

[gocats]

Colin Dowling and Raidernation sure picked a winner

 

[ericttspikes]

A question for all the Benson apologists.....If he's really any good, what is Lovie Smith's motives for keeping him second string?Thomas Jones has nude pictures of his wife?Lovie doesn't really care if the Bears win or not?Lovie has TJ on his fantasy team?Lovie hates the Univ. of Texas?I mean, people love to make ridiculous statements about Benson being the Bears' best running back, so please tell us, why doersn't the guy play.I'll hang up and listen.

I don't think anybody knows if Benson is any good or not in the NFL, he hasn't played enough. Last year, I thought he did show flashes of talent, looked quick and powerful. I don't think anybody can judge the guy one way or another with such a small sampling of PT. Jones was a first round bust, on his way to his 3rd team, and the light went on. He played really well last year. The vets rallied around him, seems like a likeable dude and played hurt, something he hasn't done much in his career. Both backs are high draft picks whose careers got off to a slow start. I think the Chicago fans and media will run Benson out of town, and he will do good for another team a few years down the road like Jones did.

 

[C-Pod]

I just tend to believe that the men who are paid to evaluate talent and watch the players, day in and day out at practice, have a little more knowledge about football than a bunch of ex-high school jocks who run fantasy teams.

The staff is playing Jones. That tells me that Jones>Benson. Add to it the fact that Lovie and the upper management of teh Bears would absolutely love to start Benson and justify his high pick. If he and Jones were even close, talent wise, they would be playing Benson. When you consider all that Jones has against him, and the fact that he is still the guy getting most of the work, it should open everyone's eyes about Benson's talent level.

It tells me that Smith is being loyal to TJ for a good year last year, and that he's liked by his teammates.

It has nothing to do with loyalty for his performance last year. The Bears want to win this year and obviously the staff thinks that TJ gives them a better chance to do so than Benson. It's a pretty simple concept.

Right now, the Bears are 3-0 with Jones as the primary running back. Opposing defenses are stacking the box to try to stop Jones, which is opening up the Bears passing game with a very good play-action quarterback behind center. Jones is a good receiver and an excellent pass protector.

Benson does not have chemistry with the offense or his teammates and there is no reason to believe that the team's rushing attack would suddenly improve exponentially with Benson getting 20 carries instead of Jones. The O-Line isn't maintaining the running lanes it did last season - they've been in more of a pass-protect mode all season.

And, yes, the Bears would like to have some return on the investment they made in Benson. But if the team is undefeated with Jones, they're not going to change for the sake of change. The Bears have stressed they want two capable running backs on their team - but not necessarily an RBBC.

Why would the Bears change it up just so some UT alum who took Benson with his first pick in his Dynasty League last year could get some points?

 

[Jedimaster21]

I have always felt that Benson would be an excellent fit to the Bear's system, and once he got in the game, he would run away with the job. I think he has looked very impressive with limited work. Eventually, with all the money invested in him, the Bears will give him a shot at the starting position. He was scheduled to be the starter with Jones's holdout, and had a sublixation of the shoulder which sidelined him and opened the door for Jones.

That being said, I find it unusual that he still hasn't taken the job. With that much money invested in a certain player, there is usually tremendous pressure from the front office to get a player in the game. Benson has made several immature and inappropriate comments to the media, and has alienated several of his teamates. I'm sure this affects his playing time. This situation is not about talent, but about Benson's inability to gain the trust of his teamates and coaches. Plus, Thomas Jones is a very good back, so Benson doesn't have the luxury of being given the job. He must earn it, and despite POSSIBLY being more talented than Jones, hasn't done that yet.

 

[Chreesto]

I think there are a lot of confusing issues in this thread. I have watched all of the bears games so far this year and I would agree with those that say Benson is the better RUNNER. That isn't the same thing as the better RUNNING BACK. Benson has more burst and seems to be able to avoid going down better than Jones. I always wonder "how can a guy that muscular go down so easy?" when I watch Jones. So the question of who is a better running back can be deceiving. Benson looks better, at running the football. However, there is a lot more to deciding who will start at running back than who is the better runner. If Benson has no heart or is a quitter or a crybaby he will sit on the bench, if Benson can't block he will sit on the bench, if Benson can't catch out of the backfield when he needs to, he will sit on the bench. I don't own Benson or Jones but I am in the camp that, eventually, Benson will learn to do those things other than running and become a major contributor to the Chicago offense. If not I expect him to be a major contributor to someone else's offense.

 

[wraith5]

Nothing but biased reporting from the Chicago media again. Not a real story. Until the coach says something it's just the reporters once again looking to throw a negative spin on Benson. The guy didn't have a carry and they are still looking to write about him. Sad.

Assuming that the story is factual, it is not "not a real story." The Bears win on Sunday was HUGE. Very emotional, and gave the team a major lift, overcoming early mistakes to take a 3-0 record (and 3-0 in the division!) into the home game against Seattle Sunday night. Then you have your back-up RB dragging his heels like he lost his puppy dog because HE didn't play?!? I think to lose sight of the importance of this is akin to thinking Tampa is in good shape for a playoff run. The fact that Benson was moping around like a spoiled 6th grader IS news. And it's not GOOD news. He keeps spiraling his way down the drain. And if the Bears aren't careful, he'll drag the team's emotion down with it.

"Talent" will get you so far, and after that it's work ethic and attitude. You think if this kid had the heart Chris Simms does he wouldn't be playing? All you guys talking about Benson's talent and the money he was paid need to get a grip on the reality of the situation - talent gets you through college, hard work helps you succeed in the NFL. All those millions of dollars are a sunk cost - which means it's gone no matter what happens with Benson. You think Lovie cares about the contract when his team is fighting for a win? Really? Would you hand the guy a kleenex and say, "Blow your nose, Son, and get in there and play." Give me a break.

I'm glad the coaches are working with him, but I also think they should deactivate him for a game. Let him sit at home on Sunday. Maybe then he'll understand that being on the field - even on the sideline - is a PRIVILAGE that you have to earn and appreciate.

Rant Terminated.

 

[C-Pod]

I think there are a lot of confusing issues in this thread. I have watched all of the bears games so far this year and I would agree with those that say Benson is the better RUNNER. That isn't the same thing as the better RUNNING BACK. Benson has more burst and seems to be able to avoid going down better than Jones. I always wonder "how can a guy that muscular go down so easy?" when I watch Jones. So the question of who is a better running back can be deceiving. Benson looks better, at running the football. However, there is a lot more to deciding who will start at running back than who is the better runner. If Benson has no heart or is a quitter or a crybaby he will sit on the bench, if Benson can't block he will sit on the bench, if Benson can't catch out of the backfield when he needs to, he will sit on the bench. I don't own Benson or Jones but I am in the camp that, eventually, Benson will learn to do those things other than running and become a major contributor to the Chicago offense. If not I expect him to be a major contributor to someone else's offense.

Nice analysis of Runner vs Running Back

 

[Raider Nation]

Colin Dowling and Raidernation sure picked a winner

Yeah.... now I'm kinda wishing I took Jones over Tomlinson.

 

[Lauryn]

if i played behind a stiff like jones, i'd too

poor job by the bears at handling this situation, imo. enough of the politics and popularity contest...put the better talent on the field and see what he can do.

 

[boubucarow]

This is annoying but Im still going to believe that if/when Benson gets his opportunity to do what this team drafted him to do (carry it 20+ times a game and punish opposing Ds), he will prove he is better suited to this offense than Jones.This kind of behaivor really annoys me though

Homer here as well. Benson will prove to be the back this offense wants. Jones is a very good back but would be better in a different offense. The coaching staff completely believes this and Benson would have been starter day one this year without injuries or antics.

 

[Badm]

Man, there is so much talk on this subject when nothing EVER changes. Isn't is totally obvious that its T.Jones job. Nothing has changed since Benson became a Bear. The job remains for Jones unless, and only unless he gets hurt. Jones ypc have been low, but he is still running with conviction and talent. The holes just aren't there. Sure there is a slim chance that if Benson gets garbage time or a few spot carries, and rips off 80 yard runs during that time, he may get his shot, but in reality, Benson will only get his chance this year, if Jones gets hurt. Otherwise forget about it.

If and when Benson does get his shot, he better make the most of it, or he probably will not be a Bear next season. Until any of this happens, not much will change. This coming from a Benson (and NOT Jones) owner.

 

[BoulderBob]

He isn't 100% yet, might as well take it slow with a bum shoulder. IF TJ continues to hop around, he will not be on the field for long.

 

[Pimpin Ain't Easy]

[At the same time.... Benson <> LJ. At least not at the moment. He certainly has the potential.

We know what TJ can do, which was good last year and not so much this year, and not so much in years past. The same can't be said for Benson. I agree that he has LJ potential, but until he gets LJ opportunity we won't know.

Give me a break with the LJ comparisons. Last year when both were healthy (Priest, and LJ) LJ still saw significant time. You could not keep him off the field because when he was on the field, all he did was make plays. Benson has done NONE of that. The comparison is not even close.Benson does have some talent, but to compare Benson now, to LJ last year before Priest got hurt is a JOKE!

 

[C-Pod]

[At the same time.... Benson <> LJ. At least not at the moment. He certainly has the potential.

We know what TJ can do, which was good last year and not so much this year, and not so much in years past. The same can't be said for Benson. I agree that he has LJ potential, but until he gets LJ opportunity we won't know.

Give me a break with the LJ comparisons. Last year when both were healthy (Priest, and LJ) LJ still saw significant time. You could not keep him off the field because when he was on the field, all he did was make plays. Benson has done NONE of that. The comparison is not even close.Benson does have some talent, but to compare Benson now, to LJ last year before Priest got hurt is a JOKE!

The LJ comparison is likely to LJ in his rookie year of 2003 and early 2004 when he was decidedly stuck behind Priest and LJ was making a stink about it.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Benson had significant carries in the first two games and didn't exactly tear it up, less than 3 YPC. Those talking about TJ's performance thus far should look at Benson's as well cause he's hasn't been any better.

 

[Bri]

Bears should stop drafting RBs and just trade for established ones. I can't think of the last RB they drafted that had a very good career and they've drafted quite a few "names" in the last 15 years or so

 

[JohnnyU]

Benson had significant carries in the first two games and didn't exactly tear it up, less than 3 YPC. Those talking about TJ's performance thus far should look at Benson's as well cause he's hasn't been any better.

Incorrect with the significant carries remark. TJ has had significant carries, Benson has not.

 

[JohnnyU]

[At the same time.... Benson <> LJ. At least not at the moment. He certainly has the potential.

We know what TJ can do, which was good last year and not so much this year, and not so much in years past. The same can't be said for Benson. I agree that he has LJ potential, but until he gets LJ opportunity we won't know.

Give me a break with the LJ comparisons. Last year when both were healthy (Priest, and LJ) LJ still saw significant time. You could not keep him off the field because when he was on the field, all he did was make plays. Benson has done NONE of that. The comparison is not even close.Benson does have some talent, but to compare Benson now, to LJ last year before Priest got hurt is a JOKE!

The LJ comparison is likely to LJ in his rookie year of 2003 and early 2004 when he was decidedly stuck behind Priest and LJ was making a stink about it.

Yes

 

[DrJ]

I don't own Benson or TJ in any league and have no real interest in slamming the bears. But if Benson is not that talented, has a poor work ethic and/or commitment to the game then that something the bears should have at least been able to suspect before spending the 4th pick on him. The lions get blasted frequently for taking Charles Rogers and Mike Williams for similar reasons and they deserve it as well. Benson may end up a bust or might turn it around. But if he is a bust some of the blame has to fall on the bears as well as Benson. That's just how it works. The bears can't be the best thing since sliced bread if they are wasting the 4th pick overall.

When you draft well in the later rounds and FA, and your team is successful, you get more leeway for a bad pick or two. If you're going to use his draft status as the sole indicator for how well they did with the pick, then every team in the NFL deserves to be reamed when a guy is good and slips past the 1st.

 

[JohnnyU]

I don't own Benson or TJ in any league and have no real interest in slamming the bears. But if Benson is not that talented, has a poor work ethic and/or commitment to the game then that something the bears should have at least been able to suspect before spending the 4th pick on him. The lions get blasted frequently for taking Charles Rogers and Mike Williams for similar reasons and they deserve it as well. Benson may end up a bust or might turn it around. But if he is a bust some of the blame has to fall on the bears as well as Benson. That's just how it works. The bears can't be the best thing since sliced bread if they are wasting the 4th pick overall.

When you draft well in the later rounds and FA, and your team is successful, you get more leeway for a bad pick or two. If you're going to use his draft status as the sole indicator for how well they did with the pick, then every team in the NFL deserves to be reamed when a guy is good and slips past the 1st.

The thing is, he should not be labeled as a bad pick. That will be proven as soon as he's starting for whomever.

 

[DrJ]

Bears should stop drafting RBs and just trade for established ones. I can't think of the last RB they drafted that had a very good career and they've drafted quite a few "names" in the last 15 years or so

Yeah, they've never draft any good RB's....Gale Sayers, Payton, Neal Anderson - all a bunch of overrated stiffs. Seriously, what's the point of going back 15 years? Has Angelo been the GM of the team for that long?

 

[fruity pebbles]

Benson had significant carries in the first two games and didn't exactly tear it up, less than 3 YPC. Those talking about TJ's performance thus far should look at Benson's as well cause he's hasn't been any better.

Incorrect with the significant carries remark. TJ has had significant carries, Benson has not.

I would say 10 carries in one game and 11 in the other is enough to do something with. Double digit carries in both games is enough to show something......anything.

 

[Lauryn]

Benson had significant carries in the first two games and didn't exactly tear it up, less than 3 YPC. Those talking about TJ's performance thus far should look at Benson's as well cause he's hasn't been any better.

Incorrect with the significant carries remark. TJ has had significant carries, Benson has not.

I would say 10 carries in one game and 11 in the other is enough to do something with. Double digit carries in both games is enough to show something......anything.

not really, but if it helps you make your point, i guess

 

[DrJ]

Benson had significant carries in the first two games and didn't exactly tear it up, less than 3 YPC. Those talking about TJ's performance thus far should look at Benson's as well cause he's hasn't been any better.

Incorrect with the significant carries remark. TJ has had significant carries, Benson has not.

I would say 10 carries in one game and 11 in the other is enough to do something with. Double digit carries in both games is enough to show something......anything.

You must also analyze the context of the runs. Benson got carries in the 4th where his team was up by 20 or more. Is is really valid to compare those to runs that happened in the 1st 3 quarters, when there was actually some element of surprise in the playcalling?ETA: Besides, Benson did show some things in the Green Bay game. He showed a guy that is tough to bring down, with a willingness to take on tacklers and fight for that extra yard. He showed excellent balance, and was able to bounce off of several would be tacklers in the backfield. When was the last time anyone saw that out of Thomas Jones?

 

[JohnnyU]

Benson had significant carries in the first two games and didn't exactly tear it up, less than 3 YPC. Those talking about TJ's performance thus far should look at Benson's as well cause he's hasn't been any better.

Incorrect with the significant carries remark. TJ has had significant carries, Benson has not.

I would say 10 carries in one game and 11 in the other is enough to do something with. Double digit carries in both games is enough to show something......anything.

Let him start a few games, then I will call it significant. Let him get into a rhythm like TJ has had the opportunity to do this year but failed miserably.

 

[Pimpin Ain't Easy]

[At the same time.... Benson <> LJ. At least not at the moment. He certainly has the potential.

We know what TJ can do, which was good last year and not so much this year, and not so much in years past. The same can't be said for Benson. I agree that he has LJ potential, but until he gets LJ opportunity we won't know.

Give me a break with the LJ comparisons. Last year when both were healthy (Priest, and LJ) LJ still saw significant time. You could not keep him off the field because when he was on the field, all he did was make plays. Benson has done NONE of that. The comparison is not even close.Benson does have some talent, but to compare Benson now, to LJ last year before Priest got hurt is a JOKE!

The LJ comparison is likely to LJ in his rookie year of 2003 and early 2004 when he was decidedly stuck behind Priest and LJ was making a stink about it.

Yes

I guess I'm trippin then. All i see is Johhny saying that Benson just doesn't have the oppertunnity, and that Benson is the best back on the team, and even TJ owners know this as well (Ok it's settled then...LOL!)Now 10 0r 11 carries is not enough to show anything. he has to get in a rthym first. Funny because last year in the 1 st game LJ had over 100 yards 2TD's on ONLY 9 carries.Again, I would save the LJ comparisons. I know your not just talking about Benson's attitude Johhny.

 

[David Dodds]

Add me to the list of people that believe Cedric Benson is soft. He goes down on first contact and has done nothing but alienate himself with the team. And in the end that does matter. It's a team game. Your block keeps the QB upright. Your big run is setup by the OL going the extra mile to spring you. Benson is a prima donna and has done NOTHING on the field to be treated special.

I am not convinced he will be any good in the NFL. Draft position determines one thing only. How much a team is going to pay a kid. Once drafted, you have to earn playing time. Look at Mike Williams and now cut Charles Rogers in Detroit. They aren't playing either. In fact, no one even seems interested in Rogers. Benson is looking more like a bust everyday. Curtis Enis, Blair Thomas....Busts happen at RB too.

I think it says a lot about the Chicago franchise to bench him. That's the right message in my opinion. Coddling him some more is not the right plan. If he can earn playing time (or Thomas gets injured forcing it), then he needs to show he belongs. It's the same message Mike Williams is getting in Detroit. Show me every day in practice or sit.

 

[DrJ]

[At the same time.... Benson <> LJ. At least not at the moment. He certainly has the potential.

We know what TJ can do, which was good last year and not so much this year, and not so much in years past. The same can't be said for Benson. I agree that he has LJ potential, but until he gets LJ opportunity we won't know.

Give me a break with the LJ comparisons. Last year when both were healthy (Priest, and LJ) LJ still saw significant time. You could not keep him off the field because when he was on the field, all he did was make plays. Benson has done NONE of that. The comparison is not even close.Benson does have some talent, but to compare Benson now, to LJ last year before Priest got hurt is a JOKE!

The LJ comparison is likely to LJ in his rookie year of 2003 and early 2004 when he was decidedly stuck behind Priest and LJ was making a stink about it.

Yes

I guess I'm trippin then. All i see is Johhny saying that Benson just doesn't have the oppertunnity, and that Benson is the best back on the team, and even TJ owners know this as well (Ok it's settled then...LOL!)Now 10 0r 11 carries is not tnough to show anything. he has to get in a rthym first. Funny because last year in the 1 st game LJ had over 100 yards 2TD's on ONLY 9 carries.Again, I would save the LJ comparisons. I know your not just talking about Benson's attitude Johhny.

9 carries that were evenly distributed throughout the course of the game. Not 4th quarter, up by 20 point runs.

 

[RBM]

He goes down on first contact

No he doesntAgree with the rest though

 

[Armando]

He goes down on first contact

No he doesntAgree with the rest though

 

[Lauryn]

I am not convinced he will be any good in the NFL. Draft position determines one thing only. How much a team is going to pay a kid. Once drafted, you have to earn playing time. Look at Mike Williams and now cut Charles Rogers in Detroit. They aren't playing either. In fact, no one even seems interested in Rogers. Benson is looking more like a bust everyday. Curtis Enis, Blair Thomas....Busts happen at RB too.

i know the coaching staff sees him everyday and would know more than i or anyone in this thread would know about him, but i think some of us would just like to see A GAME OR TWO where he was the featured back. i would be a lot more willing to declare him a complete waste after seeing him in that situation than off of a handful of carries, personally.

 

[fruity pebbles]

[At the same time.... Benson <> LJ. At least not at the moment. He certainly has the potential.

We know what TJ can do, which was good last year and not so much this year, and not so much in years past. The same can't be said for Benson. I agree that he has LJ potential, but until he gets LJ opportunity we won't know.

Give me a break with the LJ comparisons. Last year when both were healthy (Priest, and LJ) LJ still saw significant time. You could not keep him off the field because when he was on the field, all he did was make plays. Benson has done NONE of that. The comparison is not even close.Benson does have some talent, but to compare Benson now, to LJ last year before Priest got hurt is a JOKE!

The LJ comparison is likely to LJ in his rookie year of 2003 and early 2004 when he was decidedly stuck behind Priest and LJ was making a stink about it.

Yes

I guess I'm trippin then. All i see is Johhny saying that Benson just doesn't have the oppertunnity, and that Benson is the best back on the team, and even TJ owners know this as well (Ok it's settled then...LOL!)Now 10 0r 11 carries is not tnough to show anything. he has to get in a rthym first. Funny because last year in the 1 st game LJ had over 100 yards 2TD's on ONLY 9 carries.Again, I would save the LJ comparisons. I know your not just talking about Benson's attitude Johhny.

9 carries that were evenly distributed throughout the course of the game. Not 4th quarter, up by 20 point runs.

Benson got a series in each of the games earlier than the 4th quarter. One was in the second I believe, other was in the third.

 

[DrJ]

Add me to the list of people that believe Cedric Benson is soft. He goes down on first contact

I don't disagree with the rest, but on this you seriously have to be kidding...

 

[JohnnyU]

[At the same time.... Benson <> LJ. At least not at the moment. He certainly has the potential.

We know what TJ can do, which was good last year and not so much this year, and not so much in years past. The same can't be said for Benson. I agree that he has LJ potential, but until he gets LJ opportunity we won't know.

Give me a break with the LJ comparisons. Last year when both were healthy (Priest, and LJ) LJ still saw significant time. You could not keep him off the field because when he was on the field, all he did was make plays. Benson has done NONE of that. The comparison is not even close.Benson does have some talent, but to compare Benson now, to LJ last year before Priest got hurt is a JOKE!

The LJ comparison is likely to LJ in his rookie year of 2003 and early 2004 when he was decidedly stuck behind Priest and LJ was making a stink about it.

Yes

I guess I'm trippin then. All i see is Johhny saying that Benson just doesn't have the oppertunnity, and that Benson is the best back on the team, and even TJ owners know this as well (Ok it's settled then...LOL!)Now 10 0r 11 carries is not enough to show anything. he has to get in a rthym first. Funny because last year in the 1 st game LJ had over 100 yards 2TD's on ONLY 9 carries.Again, I would save the LJ comparisons. I know your not just talking about Benson's attitude Johhny.

Actually I was saying both. I'm saying that as soon as Benson is given a real shot on the field, he will run with it, because he's better than TJ. I'm also comparing him to LJ attitude in his rookie year and 2004 when he was stuck behind Priest.

 

[DrJ]

Benson got a series in each of the games earlier than the 4th quarter. One was in the second I believe, other was in the third.

And in the GB game, he had 17 yards on 4 carries on that one series including runs of 6 and 7 yards. It was the 4th quarter carries that he didn't do anything on. How is that dreadful?ETA: It was also the end of the 3rd, so the game situation wasn't really any different.Against the Lions, he did look tenative, but I don't see how anyone could have watched the GB game and said "wow, that guy looks like a piece of garbage" unless it was merely the stat line that they were watching.

 

[JohnnyU]

Add me to the list of people that believe Cedric Benson is soft. He goes down on first contact and has done nothing but alienate himself with the team. And in the end that does matter. It's a team game. Your block keeps the QB upright. Your big run is setup by the OL going the extra mile to spring you. Benson is a prima donna and has done NOTHING on the field to be treated special.

I am not convinced he will be any good in the NFL. Draft position determines one thing only. How much a team is going to pay a kid. Once drafted, you have to earn playing time. Look at Mike Williams and now cut Charles Rogers in Detroit. They aren't playing either. In fact, no one even seems interested in Rogers. Benson is looking more like a bust everyday. Curtis Enis, Blair Thomas....Busts happen at RB too.

I think it says a lot about the Chicago franchise to bench him. That's the right message in my opinion. Coddling him some more is not the right plan. If he can earn playing time (or Thomas gets injured forcing it), then he needs to show he belongs. It's the same message Mike Williams is getting in Detroit. Show me every day in practice or sit.

Let's see how soft he is with 20 carries a game.

 

[Steelers4Life]

I am not convinced he will be any good in the NFL. Draft position determines one thing only. How much a team is going to pay a kid. Once drafted, you have to earn playing time. Look at Mike Williams and now cut Charles Rogers in Detroit. They aren't playing either. In fact, no one even seems interested in Rogers. Benson is looking more like a bust everyday. Curtis Enis, Blair Thomas....Busts happen at RB too.

i know the coaching staff sees him everyday and would know more than i or anyone in this thread would know about him, but i think some of us would just like to see A GAME OR TWO where he was the featured back. i would be a lot more willing to declare him a complete waste after seeing him in that situation than off of a handful of carries, personally.

Well, that coaching staff has decided that he hasn't earned the right yet to get a single carry in a close, meaningful game. He's not going to be handed the starting role without showing that he gives the team a better chance to win, and I'll side with the judgement of the guys who get paid to make these decisions. It makes no difference what he has or hasn't done yet. He's got a LONG way to go to even get the opportunity to prove he can do anything better than Thomas Jones. Jones seems to be running with the same burst, the same quickness, and the same determination he ran with last year. He's had more people in the backfield and fewer holes to run through, which explains his perceived indecision, but you can be sure that if Lovie thought for a second that Benson gave the team a better chance to win, he'd be in there.Right now, there doesn't seem to be a situation where they feel Benson is better than Jones.

 

[Jack Burton]

talented or not Bensons behavior has been unprofessional and very selfish. imho he is a prima donna who hasnt realized he aint in college anymore and he aint no BMOC.

I may be wrong but I seem to remember Benson saying he would rather win the Heisman than a NAT champ when he was at Texas.

 

[JohnnyU]

I am not convinced he will be any good in the NFL. Draft position determines one thing only. How much a team is going to pay a kid. Once drafted, you have to earn playing time. Look at Mike Williams and now cut Charles Rogers in Detroit. They aren't playing either. In fact, no one even seems interested in Rogers. Benson is looking more like a bust everyday. Curtis Enis, Blair Thomas....Busts happen at RB too.

i know the coaching staff sees him everyday and would know more than i or anyone in this thread would know about him, but i think some of us would just like to see A GAME OR TWO where he was the featured back. i would be a lot more willing to declare him a complete waste after seeing him in that situation than off of a handful of carries, personally.

Well, that coaching staff has decided that he hasn't earned the right yet to get a single carry in a close, meaningful game. He's not going to be handed the starting role without showing that he gives the team a better chance to win, and I'll side with the judgement of the guys who get paid to make these decisions. It makes no difference what he has or hasn't done yet. He's got a LONG way to go to even get the opportunity to prove he can do anything better than Thomas Jones. Jones seems to be running with the same burst, the same quickness, and the same determination he ran with last year. He's had more people in the backfield and fewer holes to run through, which explains his perceived indecision, but you can be sure that if Lovie thought for a second that Benson gave the team a better chance to win, he'd be in there.Right now, there doesn't seem to be a situation where they feel Benson is better than Jones.

So says the TJ owner At least I admit I'm a Benson owner.

 

[Bears_Man2]

I'm shocked to see that he didn't have a single carry vs. Minnesota. Especially given Jones has been nothing to write home about yet. I wish the Jones/Benson situation wasn't so tense so that they could use them in a similar fashion to Bush/McAllister.

It's easy to pile on the guy right now. I want to see him get 15-20 carries in situations that aren't sure running situations before I'm going to call the guy a bust. The coaching staff doesn't feel the need for that right now with Jones, so we're not going to see it.

I've been impressed from what I've seen of Benson in the situations of meaning, as far and few between as they've been.

 

[Steelers4Life]

I am not convinced he will be any good in the NFL. Draft position determines one thing only. How much a team is going to pay a kid. Once drafted, you have to earn playing time. Look at Mike Williams and now cut Charles Rogers in Detroit. They aren't playing either. In fact, no one even seems interested in Rogers. Benson is looking more like a bust everyday. Curtis Enis, Blair Thomas....Busts happen at RB too.

i know the coaching staff sees him everyday and would know more than i or anyone in this thread would know about him, but i think some of us would just like to see A GAME OR TWO where he was the featured back. i would be a lot more willing to declare him a complete waste after seeing him in that situation than off of a handful of carries, personally.

Well, that coaching staff has decided that he hasn't earned the right yet to get a single carry in a close, meaningful game. He's not going to be handed the starting role without showing that he gives the team a better chance to win, and I'll side with the judgement of the guys who get paid to make these decisions. It makes no difference what he has or hasn't done yet. He's got a LONG way to go to even get the opportunity to prove he can do anything better than Thomas Jones. Jones seems to be running with the same burst, the same quickness, and the same determination he ran with last year. He's had more people in the backfield and fewer holes to run through, which explains his perceived indecision, but you can be sure that if Lovie thought for a second that Benson gave the team a better chance to win, he'd be in there.Right now, there doesn't seem to be a situation where they feel Benson is better than Jones.

So says the TJ owner At least I admit I'm a Benson owner.

I've admitted being a TJ owner in many threads already, and he's contributed heavily to my 0-3 start in that league. I drafted him in another PPR redraft league this year, and he's my RB3. Very comfortable with him.Doesn't change that what I wrote is true.

 

[TheBradyBunch]

When a guy says he'd rather win the Heisman than beat OU, it shouldn't surprise anyone when he leaves the sidelines before the end of a game or pouts after a thrilling comeback win over a division rival. 30 carries and a loss to the Vikes and you could bet Ced would have a big-### grin on his face. Something is not right between the kids ears and for that reason alone, the Bears will not start him this season unless TJ goes down. You can't afford to throw away a Super Bowl caliber season on a nut case that also has the potential to destroy the chemistry of the team. That said, TJ has gotta step it up. He should be running away with this job, but he certainly hasn't made the most of his chances to put Benson in the rearview.

 

[mektarus]

At this point I don't think it matters particularly who is the better running back, it matters who is the better blocker, and that is clearly TJ. Lovie knows that they need a decent passing attack to get to the next level and they finally have that with Grossman. He also knows, however, that Rickety Rex is a QB's equivalent to Fragile Freddy, and right now the #1 priority is keeping Grossman upright. If Benson ever gets his head out of his ### and decides to be a team player (ie - blocking for your QB) he is likely to at least get a chance to supplant TJ. Until then, however, I think he will be seeing a lot of bench.

PS - since it seems to matter to some, I am a (very concerned) Benson owner

 

[JohnnyU]

At this point I don't think it matters particularly who is the better running back, it matters who is the better blocker, and that is clearly TJ. Lovie knows that they need a decent passing attack to get to the next level and they finally have that with Grossman. He also knows, however, that Rickety Rex is a QB's equivalent to Fragile Freddy, and right now the #1 priority is keeping Grossman upright. If Benson ever gets his head out of his ### and decides to be a team player (ie - blocking for your QB) he is likely to at least get a chance to supplant TJ. Until then, however, I think he will be seeing a lot of bench.PS - since it seems to matter to some, I am a (very concerned) Benson owner

I hope the Bears admit it was a mistake to draft Benson and trades him. Then Benson runs up 184 and 3 on their a-r-s-e-s the first chance he gets.

 

[redman]

I see a lot of bear fans slamming Benson while supporting the team that drafted him very early in the first round and gave him a lot of money to sit on the bench. If he was such a bad person and without talent, why spend the 4th pick overall on him? The bears have to share in the blame for any failures Benson has in his career. It's not a reasonable position to say that the Benson is and the bears are . If Benson fails, then the bears failed big time taking him so early.

You're completely missing the point. Whether the Bears did a good job in scouting him for character is a separate issue. Benson himself is responsible for the progression of his career, his relationship with teammates, his work ethic, his attitude. He's failing miserably in all of those things. The only way for you to excuse Benson and place the blame completely with the Bears would be for you to believe that Benson is and has been the best RB in terms of his capability to do enough things better than TJ to have replaced TJ in the lineup long ago. For you to believe that, you'd have to believe that the Bears are either too stupid to realize that the guy they drafted high in the first round isn't ready to play, or that they have a personal vendetta against him such that they're more interested in pursuing the vendetta than winning. Whatever your favored scenario is, I'd suggest that you kindly check your sanity. What's clear to me is that Benson is a 23-year old millionaire infant who has a lot more in common to date with Ryan Leaf than he does with any starting RB in the NFL.

I don't own Benson or TJ in any league and have no real interest in slamming the bears. But if Benson is not that talented, has a poor work ethic and/or commitment to the game then that something the bears should have at least been able to suspect before spending the 4th pick on him. The lions get blasted frequently for taking Charles Rogers and Mike Williams for similar reasons and they deserve it as well. Benson may end up a bust or might turn it around. But if he is a bust some of the blame has to fall on the bears as well as Benson. That's just how it works. The bears can't be the best thing since sliced bread if they are wasting the 4th pick overall.

Nothing I said disagreed with what you just wrote, however your focus upon the responsibility the Bears somehow have for his failure (at least to date) seems to imply that they have greater responsibility for that failure than does the player himself. If you want to treat him like an infant like that, who is absolved of responsibility, you have no right to be shocked that he behaves like one.

 

[sholditch]

For those that questioned me when I said Cedric Benson was a bit of a 'headcase' - this from today's Chicago Tribune:

Link



Benson must stop pouting, start finding way to play

by David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune

September 26, 2006

Tuesday's two-minute drill …

With one notable exception, Bears players paraded off the Metrodome field Sunday after their 19-16 comeback victory the way one would expect a team to react after such an emotionally satisfying win.

But the one exception, Cedric Benson, moped around so obviously that you wondered whether he could become a nuisance in a locker room led by veterans who will not tolerate distractions.

The enigmatic running back lagged behind many of his teammates at pace reserved for the injured or weary. Benson was neither, having played not a snap for only the second time in his brief career.

Looking at Benson's vacant expression, it was hard to tell if he was a member of the team that had just stolen a game on the road to remain unbeaten or the one that squandered victory. His body language screamed sniff, sniff.

The contrast between Benson and his jubilant teammates was so noticeable that coach Lovie Smith, assistant Darryl Drake and team chaplain Harry Swayne separately attempted to raise Benson's spirits on the walk off the field.

Later, as the locker room emptied, another senior team employee was huddled with Benson—a lot of attention devoted to an unused backup running back on a first-place team.

It suggested how fragile Benson's psyche is and that the Bears know it. It also spoke to how willing they are to reach out to a high-maintenance player who doesn't know how to be a backup because he never has been one.

But Benson needs to get used to it, at least this season. Bears coaches have offered the "flow of the game" excuse to explain why they stuck with Thomas Jones the entire game, but one theory is the Bears couldn't risk the dropoff in intensity by using Benson.

"We didn't have a lot of running plays and our running game never really got going," Smith reiterated Monday. "We were never into the flow of the game to make that move. It's as simple as that."

Asked about pass-protection issues, Smith downplayed the idea that Benson was a liability. "No, we [just] wanted our best group in there at the time," he said.

Smith stands behind his players publicly, a reason he is so popular with them. But what he would never say is the passion with which the Vikings' defense played required a professional response from the Bears' backfield Benson can't yet provide, whether it was picking up the blitz on passing plays or protecting the football on runs.

Jones never takes a play off and nobody in the huddle or on the sideline ever wonders where his head is. If the Bears could say the same thing about a first-round draft pick in whom they have invested $16 million, then they would have found a way to get Benson in the game against a Vikings defense that limited the running game to 2.4 yards per carry.

The Bears need Benson as they continue this Super Bowl-or-bust season because two backs are better than one, especially one with his talent. But his head and heart must catch up to his body.

One day, perhaps, Benson will be the answer every down. But right now he appears to be too much of a question, one a focused team devoid of divisive issues can't afford to let linger. ...

All this tells me is that the Chicago press still has it out for the guy. Why spend an entire article writing about one player who didn't meet the writer's standard of jubilance. Screw this hack.

 

[redman]

You must also analyze the context of the runs. Benson got carries in the 4th where his team was up by 20 or more. Is is really valid to compare those to runs that happened in the 1st 3 quarters, when there was actually some element of surprise in the playcalling?

This is not a winning argument, especially given taht it becomes easier, not harder, to run late in the game with a lead. Benson had the benefit of fresh legs against a defense that had been worn down by TJ, and he still didn't show much. I'm not rooting against Benson, and I have neither him nor TJ on my team. But the NFL is so competitive with so few differences between the talent from one team to another that any edge you can get is precious. If Benson was more talented than TJ, they'd have him in there. To argue that there's some sort of vendetta against him when he's done nothing remotely approaching what guys like TO did with the Eagles, or Keyshawn did with the Bucs or Thurman is doing with the Bengals, is ludicrous. The team is heavily invested in him and wants him to succeed. He's not showing anything to force his way into the lineup.

 

[Marc Levin]

Everyone slammed LJ about his attitude before getting his shot in KC. I see similarities with Benson.

I do, too Only difference is that a less talented back than Priest is ahead of Benson, so folks think Benson should be starting now.

 

[Christo]

I'm not so sure that I'd stick a fork in him yet. He was probably disappointed that he didn't play. But I was watching the game Sunday and after they scored the winning TD, Benson was one of the first people to congratulate the guys as they came off the field.

 

[redman]

I'm not so sure that I'd stick a fork in him yet. He was probably disappointed that he didn't play. But I was watching the game Sunday and after they scored the winning TD, Benson was one of the first people to congratulate the guys as they came off the field.

Well that changes everything.